October 10, 2014 10.20 am This story is over 125 months old

Lincoln GP adopts time-saving prescription service

Time-saver: A Lincoln doctor’s surgery has scrapped its usual green slip prescription method in favour of a quicker electronic service.
Cliff House Medical Practice is one of the first GPs to implement the system.

A Lincoln doctor’s surgery has scrapped its usual green slip prescription method in favour of a quicker electronic service.

As one of the first GPs to implement the service, Cliff House Medical Practice on Burton Road and Gresham Street will direct patients to an Electronic Prescription Service (EPS).

The service means prescriptions, including repeat prescriptions, will be sent electronically to a pharmacy of the patient’s choice, at a time that suits them best.

The system cuts out unnecessary visits to the surgery to pick up a prescription first.

Richard Slight is a patient at the practice who has been using the service. He said: “It’s so much easier for me to pick up a repeat prescription and it saves me a lot of time.

“I live about a mile and half away from the surgery and at the moment I can’t drive very well so I’m relying on someone else to help me get my medication.

“Since I’ve been using the electronic system I can put my request in and pick up my medication two days later.

“Previously I had to put a request in for more medicine at the surgery, pick up the prescription slip two days later then visit the pharmacy where I could be left waiting, or asked to come back to collect the medication when it was ready.

“The new system saves my wife driving me to and fro and has made life easier for us both. It’s a great surgery, they look after me well and this new service is brilliant.”

Dr Shahid Ansari from Cliff House Medical Practice added: “We all know how difficult it can be to pick up a repeat prescription when you have a busy schedule or how stressful it can be if someone you care about is ill.

“The Electronic Prescription Service makes it easier for our patients to collect medicine at a convenient time and place, whether that’s close to home or work.

“We’re one of the first GP surgeries in the city of Lincoln to implement this service for our patients. It will save us time at the practice as staff will spend less time processing paper forms and our patients will benefit from a faster and more convenient service.”